Android adb doesn't work at Ubuntu in VMWare Workstation

Question

My host machine runs with Ubuntu 12.04 64bit. On the host adb works normal. But in the VM (Ubuntu 12.04 32bit / VMWare Workstation 8.0.4) adb shows either no device or device offline. Starting adb as root doesn't help. lsusb shows the device:

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 18d1:4e12 Google Inc. Nexus One (debug)

Answer 1

You won't see the device in your host + guest simultaneously, only one at a time. For example, if you connect a regular USB drive, you can either have the host be able to use it or one of the guests but not both. Usually, if one of the guest VMs has focus (like when you have clicked on it, have typed, etc.) when you insert it, then the connected device goes to the guest and can't be accessed on from host. It would appear as a connected device on the host but not directly usable. In your case, it's happening the other way round. So...

If it's already connected and detected in the host but not the guest, go to the VM menu --> Removable Devices --> under the device indicated as "Google Nexus...." select Connect (Disconnect from Host) .

Answer 2

I had a problem with this on my system as well. Turns out I have USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports on my computer. ONLY the USB 2.0 ports would work. Luckily my new system has ONE of those.

Not sure if it will help this case, but worth looking into.

BTW, VMWare Workstation 9 supports USB 3.0, but I still had problems with it not recognizing USB 2.0 devices like my HTC phone when I plugged into the USB 3.0 port on the host.